Door operating mechanism



H. RowNTRl-:E

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed July 2o, 1929 nvenoz 351i* his Gmo/mugs fO/dfawnme ow mm Q Sem. 29, 1931.

Sept. 29, 1931. H. RowNTREE DooR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed July 20, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 W .w JW w #wv w o M M lo nu umg. s mv N, N W, m m 2N n NL* \w w .WLQQQ 3&3OQ w w m Q w Ll TV h wo m m M L) t l M \C`Gv:.vo%.w-wl m /\.r.1 @H s1 .o S @D w s mm, l Sio am Sept. 29, 1931. H. RowNTRl-:E

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed July 20, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Sept. 29, 1931.

H. ROWNTREE DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed July 20, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Suva/ratez I /7/r0/d /lwhree 11 A@ a Sm .Sv

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Patented Sept. 29, 1931 emr-En STATE-s PATENT or Fier..

nAno'Ln ROWNTREE, or soAnsDALnNnW Yon-K, AssI-GNoItmo NATIONAL PNnUMnTIC contr-Arm,v or NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION oF Wns'ry VIRGINIA DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Application led July" 20,

. This invention relatesy in general-to the combination. of a motive device, doors tol be operated thereby., connecting mechanism therebetween, and means independent of the motive device for effecting closure of the doors.

One of: theobj'ects of. this invention is the provisionof'a combination of the above type which is particularly adapted for operating doors ontransportation:vehiclesof all kinds.

Another obj ect'of' the vinvention is the provision of motive means for operating the doors in one `direction. and. an additional motive nieans'for operating them in the opposite, preferably the closing, direction.

Another object of the invention is the provision ot a power actuated rod or the like adapted to ext-end throughout the length of the vehicle on both sides thereof'by' means of which all the doors on each side of the vehicle are operated to Vopened' position by the adjacent rod'.-

provision inY a mechanism 'ofthe above type of a spring pressed plungeirhaving cushioningor retarding. means` inV conjunction therewith for closing the doors andI preventing too rapid closing thereof and slamming at th end ofthe closing. stroke.

A still further objectof the Vinventionis the provision otmechanism of the above type which may readily operate to permit t e opening off' the vdoor byv manual force eX- erted by a person-in the path of the door aulo has been struck thereby.

A still further object is they provision of mechanism in apparatus of this type by means of which the doors may be locked in closed position arranged so that the lock is released during the initial movement of the mechanism before the door begins-to move.

These-and otherobjects as Wil-l' appearfrom the following disclosure are successfully secured byvnieans of this invention.

This invention resides substantially in the combination,construction, arrangement, and relative location cliparts, all as Will be set forth in great detail below.

Referring tothe d-ravvings` Figure: l dis-closes in elevatiom with some 1929. Serial No. 3795649: p

Fig. 4 is. anyelevational--fview of another form ofthe device as applied togdollhlesliding doorslmiovingfin opposite directions; l

Figs. 5l and 5A takenf together showaplurality of single sliding doorsoperatedr in one *direction* byya common meansand inY the other by individual means;I l Y Figs. 6' and 6A taken-together show a simi'- larfcombination for 'double sliding; doors Figs. 7 andTA taken together showa, modilied arrangement for operatingdou-bley sliding doors;

p Fig.. 8is anrenlargeddetailvievv of theclos- A further object of the. invention is'tlie` ing cylinder,1locking arrangement, and foperating parts employed inv connection with the apparatusof Figs. 7 andTA ;`and l Fig;Y 9fis a diagrammatic; view showing one well known methodV of controlling themotive device.

There are now known many. forms of-a-pparatus bymeans of which doors oa-ll types f' are operated through lthe agency of a motive device.Y The present invention-ijs directed to thisiield and comprises a@ new form of mech.- ansmt employing -a number of features which distinguish it from the old formsnovv used.

A` clearer picture of theinvention Will be had by specific reference to theA drawings, Which-Willnovv bemade. j

Asshown in Fig. 1 adoor l ofl the sliding type is employed. The` mechanism vofV` this V'form of deviceA is adapted for use in connection With a single sliding-doomI lit may be pointed out here that other objects, rather than `a door, can be operated by this mechansmf and if a djoorV is operatedit need not necessarily be a` sliding door- Theillustrations of the drawings are merely given to help in explaining the principles embodiedV in the invention. Secured to the rear edge of the door are the-spaced brackets 2 between which extends the short shaft 3 on which is slidably mounted a collar 4. Pivotally secured to the sliding collar 4 at 6 is a link bar 5 which is pivotally supported at 7 on any fixed support S. The other end of the link bar 5 is pivotally secured at 11 to the links 9 and 10. Link 9 is pivot-ally secured at 12 to the bell crank lever 13 which in turn is pivotally supported at 14 on the supporting plate 15. The other end of the bell crank lever 13 is pivotally secured at 16 to the piston rod 17 et the closing device 18. The closing device 18 is pivotally supported at 19 on the plate 15. Brackets 2O and 21 are secured to the plate 15 in which is slidably mounted the link 22 which is pivotally secured at 23 to the link 10. As shown in Fig. 3 a similar link 24 is provided extending parallel to the link 22 and likewise pivotally secured at 23 to the link 10. Pivotally supported at 25 between links 22 and 24 is the latch bar 26 having the extension 27 The outer ends of the links 22 and 24 are provided with enlarged recessed portions providinO the casing 28 within which is mounted a spring 29 pressing against the end 27 of the latch bar 26. Slidably supported in the bracket 31 secured to plate 15 is a rod or shaft 30 which is intended to extend throughout the length of the vehicle or far enough so that as many doors as is desired may be operated thereby conjointly. For each door adjacent the end 27 ot the latch bar 26 there is provided a short arm 32 rigidly secured to the rod 30. Each rod 30 is provided with a motive device which has been diagrammatically illustrated at 33. This, of course, may be any of the well known types either of the electric or the pneumatic type adapted to operate the red 3() in either direction. Pivotally supported on the bracket 20 is a lever 34 provided with a rod and handle 35 for manual operation. The 'free end of the lever 34 contacts with the free end of the latch bar 2G. Pivotally supported on the free end of the lever 34 and depending therefrom is a rod 36 on which is resiliently supported the contact disc 38 within a casing 37. This switch comprises a door switch connected in a signalling` circuit in the usual .ianner to control a signalling device to indicate when the doors are opened and closed. The door closing device 18 comprises a cylinder within which operates a piston 41 connected to the piston rod 17. A. spring 40 lies between one end of the cylinder and the piston 41. One wall of the cylinder is provided with a passage 43 having a number of spaced openings 44. The lower end of the passage 43 likewise opens into the cylinder and an adjusting screw 42 is provided to vary the area of the passage 43. This cylinder is provided with oil or other suita le cushioning means, the action of which will be described later.

The operation ot this mechanism is as foilows. The motive device .33 is, of course, controlled by a switch 0r valve depending upon its nature. ltlhen energy is supplied thereto it operates to slice the rod 3), it the door is to be opened, in the direction ot the arrow. It is being assumed for the purposes o't this description that the door in closed position as illustrated in Fig. 1. As the rod 30 moves to the lett (in the direction of the arrow) he first thing that happens is that the short arm 32 strikes the extension 27 of the latch bar 2G. This causes the latch bar to rotate in a counter-cloclwise direction against the action of spring 29 and moves the left hand end thereof down between the links 22 and 24 so that the upper edge thereoia is in the same plane as the upper edges of the links 22 and 24. As the short arm 32 continues to move to the lctt it strikes the casing 2S and causes links 22 and o likewise slide with it to the left. The movement of these links through the action of link 10 causes the link bar 5 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction about its pivot 7 and the bell crank lever 13 to likewise operate in a counter-clock vise direction about its pivot 14. The result is that the door 1 moves to the right and piston 41 moves upwardly in its cylinder compressing spring 40. At the same time the oil above the piston escapes through the ports 44 and passage around the piston and into the lower end et the cylinder. This action continues until the doei' is fully opened. It is, of course, apparent that the latch bar 2G has a lock which prevents the opening` of the doors by hand as soon as the end thereof strikes the bracket 21 if it in raised position. The initial movement of rod 30, however, moves this latch bar to a position where the motive levice can open the door. Gt course a number or" doors may be operated by the same rod 30 by merely duplicating the mechanism for each door. When it is desired to close the door the motive device is energized to operate it in a reverse direction forcing shaft 30 to the right for its full stroke. The door then begins to close under the action et spring Tt is prevented in too rapid movement by the cushioning action of the oil below the piston 41 which must escape through the ports 44 and finally through the lowermost port 44 near the end of the stroke of the door. As soon the end et' latch bar 26 is past bracket 21 spring 23 forces it upwardly so that the door is locked against manual opening. One feature of this arrangement is that during the closing movement should the door` strike an obstruction. such as a person passing therethrough, the force of the blow on the person is reduced by reason of the fact that it is being closed by the spring 40 solely. Tn addition, the door may be moved manually by that person by merely pushing it against the action ot spring 40. lVhenever desired the mechanism may be manually operated bypulling down-on the rod 35 to move the latch barY 26 into unlockingl pesitionwhen the door may then be opened by hand. Inthis arrangement it`is appare-nt that a 4number of doors may besimultaneously opened by means of" a single motive device and left free tobe closed independently of each other by means of each door closing device associated therewith.

" i Sincethe force exerted by the spring Li() is not very great personscaughtin the door can easily release themselves and the doors will immediately continue on their closing strek;x as soon as the doorway is cleared and lock themselves shut when fully closed.

ln place of the door closing mechanism disclosed ak differential engine can be em.A 'ployed, one `for .each door,' with theV usual swinging-arm in place of the spring dash pot shown. No control valves or: switches would be needed for the differential engine eX- cept a check valve to allow freeaccess of pressure to-the small cylinder and only allow a restrictedegress of pressure from it, thereby placing aiminimum ofrestriction upon the dooras` itis opening, and giving ita constant speed in closing.

The modified form shown lin Fig. 4 is particularly adaptedV for double sliding doors which move in opposite directions'-` The doors are shown at 1l and are arranged to move in opposite directions whenthey open and towards each other when they close. Most ofthe mechanismin this form ofthe device is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and has been given the samereference numerals. There any divergence occurs the differences will be described in detail. A second'link bar 5de-provided for the added doorl which is connected thereto in the same manner as the link bar 5 on the other door andthe link bar 501i the door in Fig. l. This second link bar, however, is-pivotally supported at 7 on some fixed support and at a point betweentlie pivotal connection 6 and the pivotalsupport 7 link 5() is pivotally secured thereto at one end and at the other' end to theY links v5, 9 and'l() at 11.

The operation of this mechanism is substantially similar to that ofthe mechanism in Fig. l: Thus7 as shaft 30 moves to the.

left, the short arm 32 after releasing thellatch 26 forces the links 22 and 24 tothe left causing the link bar 5 to rotate in a counter-cloclrwise direction and the link bar 5 on the other door through the agencyv of the linlr to operate in a clockwise direction. This isduringthe opening movement of the doors. The closing movement is effected, as before, by means of the spring operated device '18 after shaft 30` has been moved to the rightby7 the motive deviceA 33; In the closing movement the right hand link bar 5 `moves in a clock" wise: directionnand the left hand link bar 5 moves in a counter-clockwisedirection.A As

vhas beenshown in the dra-wings se-vera-l arrangements in. whicha plurality of doors are operated in one direction by a common means and arei-ndividuallyoperated 1n the opposite `direction-byV its own operating device. For

example,` in Figs. 5 and 5A, which are to be taken-together; there is shown a duplication of the partsshovvn inFig.l lforil'lustrating and emphasizing the feature of a common operating means fora plurality ofdoors in one direction` and individuali meansl for independently operating'the doors in the other direction'. Y y

For the-'most part the elements in Figs. 5 and 5A: doenot need to be described in detail since theyl are an exa-ct duplicate of theelements inlFig. l: Y These figures show the apparatus arranged )for opera-ting `three doors simultaneously. The main operating shaft 30', b'y means of which all the doorsv arev operated to open position,` is shown provided at once-nd withafrack 3()El meshing with the gear on the shaft of a'fiuidlpressure op-` erated mot-or 33. The lcircuitconnections for such a motorare show-n in Fig. 9 which will bedescribed generally since this combination is old and Well known in theart and only given here for purposes of permitting lcomplete un'derstanding-of' this invention. The fluidpressu-re operated device 33 is of the double piston typejand has aV valve 200 mounted thereon which in one positionpermits of the operation of the ,motor in vone direction and inl the other position permits of the operation of themotor Vin theopposite direch tion. Also supported' on the motor is a valve puller Q01-of wellknown construction which is connected to the valve for' operating it to either oflits positions. The valve puller is controlled by an electromagnet -valve 202 which has a solenoid winding grounded at 203. The other terminal of this winding is connected by wire204 toene ofthe contacts of Va single-pole,v single-throwy switch 205. The other contactofthisswitch is connected by wire 206to the positive side of the current source. It-may be` pointed out that the elec- 'tromagnet'valve 202, When energized, supplies-fluid pressure 'to the valve puller 201 causing it, through its connection, to operate the valve 202 toits other position. VIn this position of valve 202 fluid pressure would be admitted to moto-r 33 at the right hand end, looking at Fig. '5, so asrto cause gear 33a to operate in aclockwise direction pulling shaft. 30 to the left. This movement of the shaft 30 to the left operates all of the doors 1 to open position in a manner carefully described in connection with Fig. 1. When switch 205 is opened it energizes magnet valve 202. The valve puller returns valve 200 to its other position to that shown in Fig. 9 admitting` fluid pressure to the left hand end of the engine and permitting it to eX- haust from the right hand end. At this time the motor operates to return rod 30 to the right to its normal position. This movement o1 rod 30 does not, however, operate the doors in the reverse direction but merely leaves them free to be each operated independently of the other to the closed position by means of themotive device 18. It will be remembered in connection with the description of Figs. 1 and 2 that when the doors open the spring in the motive device 18 is compressed. Hence when shaft 30 moves back to normal position each door is moved to closed position by the spring in the motive device 18.

In the arrangement of Figs. 6 and 6A, which are to be taken together to give a complete device, we find a duplication of the parts disclosed in Fig. 4. The motive device 33 would be the same as that disclosed in Fig. 9 and controlled in the same manner. The purposes of these figures is to again demonstrate the important point that a common operating means actuates all of the doors in one direction and they are free to be actuated in the other direction by independent means.

he main distinction between the arrangement in Figs. G and 3A and that of Figs. 5 and 5A is that the invention has been applied to double sliding doors which move away from each other in opposite directions when they open and towards each other when they close. As before, the shaft 30 is provided with a rack 30a meshing with gear 33a driven by the'motive device 33. When the rod 30 moves to the left all of the doors are opened in the manner explained in connection with Fig. f1. Then it is returned to normal position in the opposite direction the doors are left free to be operated to closed7 position by the motive device 18, each independently of the other.

A somewhat modified arrangement is shown in Figs. 7 and 7A which are to be taken together to show the complete device. This arrangement is shown as applied to double sliding doors and employs two rods and 102 which are operated in opposite directions. As before, any suitable motive device 33 is employed which drives a gear meshing with the racks 103 formeel on rods 101 and 102. These rods are slidably supported in the brackets 100 and upon rotation of gear 105 move in opposite directions. A lever 10G is shown connected to the same shaft on which gear 105 is located and arranged to be operated manually by a handle 107 when desired. Rod 101 is provided with arms 108 the door.

and 109 and rod 102 is provided with arms 110 and 111. Supported over each section 118 and 119 of the doors is a support 112 on which is pivotally secured a lever 113. A suitable sp `ing 114 is provided for holding the lever in the position shown in the drawings.

This construction is more clearly shown in Fig. 8. Secured to the top of each door section is a projecting arm 115 connected to a motive device 116 by the rod 117. As shown in Fig. 8 the motive device 116 comprises a cyiinder having therein a piston 120 connected to the rod 117. A compression spring 121 lies between the piston and one end ot' the cylinder. A by-passage 122 is formed in the wall of the cylinder and is provided with an adjusting screw 123 to form a restricted opening to eifecta dashpot arrangement, as is well known in the art. rThis dashpot arrangement prevents too rapid movement ot the piston in its movement to the left.

The operation of this arrangementwill now be given. "Vhen themotive deviceis energized to cause rod 101 to move to the left and rod 102 to move to the right arms 108 and 111, respectively, on their initial movement in view of their contact with levers 113 cause the levers to operate in a counter-cloclmvise direction to raise them above the arms 115 and compress springs 114. 1t may be pointed out that levers 113 operate as latch bolts or locks to hold the doors locked in closed position. This initial movement of rods 101 and 102 releases the locks and continued movement thereof causes arms 109 and 110 to more over and engage the arms 115 which are securely fastened to the upper edges oi Further movement ot these rodsl then causes the door sections 118 and 119 to move in opposite directions to cause the doors to fully open.

When the motive device 33 is operated in the reverse direction rods 101 and 102 move back to normal position freeing the door sections for independent movement to closing position by means of the motive devices 11G. This is effected by the potential energy of compression springs 121 acting on pistons 120. Too rapid movement of these pistons is prevented by the trapped air inthe cylinders which must pass back ot the piston through the passage 122 and its restriction. The same results may be secured by rotating the gear 105 by the handle 107.

It may be pointed out that in each case shown the doors may be hand operated, operated by pneumatic motors of any type of which one example is given, or they may be operated by electric motive devices ot any suitable construction.

From the foregoing disclosure it will be apparent that 1 have embodied certain principles of construction and operation in a door operating mechanism of which several embodiments have been disclosed for purposes o1 illustration. I am, of course, aware that many changes in the details of construction and relative arrangement of parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited except as required by the appended claims.

IVhat I seek to secure by United Stat-es Letters Patent is:

l. In a door operating system of the type described, the combination comprising at least one movable rod, power means for moving said rod, a plurality of doors, connections between said rod and said doors whereby theyare all operated simultaneously in the opening direction, independent spring actuated power devices connected to each door for operating each door in the closing direction independently of the other doorsV when freed by return movement of said rods and connections between said connections and power device whereby the power devices store energy during the opening of the doors for use in closing the corresponding doors independently.

2. In a door operating system the combination comprising a plurality of doors, a movable rod mounted adjacent the doors for operating all of them in opening direction, a

movable bar for each door, supports for the bar, a lever normally projecting in the path of one of the supports, a lug on said rod one for each door, said lug being movable into contact with each lever to move it out of the path of the guiding support upon the initial movement of said rod, a power device for moving the rod, means for connecting each door to its corresponding bar, and independent means for each door attached thereto for operatitng each door independently in the closing direction.

In testimony whereoef I have hereunto set my hand on this 18th day of July, A. D. 1929.

HAROLD ROWNTREE. 

